Nomura upgrades stance on Indian market from ‘neutral’ to ‘overweight’

Benchmark indices have come off 3 per cent from their record highs amid a spike in global oil prices and upsurge in selling by foreign portfolio investors.

The brokerage is positive on stocks that are quoting at “reasonable relative valuations” and those expected to gain from the growth in the domestic economy (banks and infrastructure stocks).

ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, L&T, Reliance, ITC and MedPlus are some of the stocks it favours. Nomura is also positive on stocks that are likely to benefit from some structural themes such as increased adoption of electric vehicles. These include Mahindra & Mahindra and Uno Minda (formerly Minda Industries).

Nomura says sustained high oil prices, China re-rotation and the General Elections in May 2024 are the key risks for the Indian markets.

The brokerage says populist measures and lower government capex especially going into the elections could be a concern area. Also, it believes there could be a pullback in the Indian markets in case of a global ‘risk off’ scenario as valuations are rich both on an absolute and relative basis. The Nomura note states that if global oil prices remain above $100 per barrel, it will be a major risk as it may put pressure on the twin current account and fiscal deficits and also hurt corporate earnings.

Reversal in domestic flows also remains a key risk for the Indian markets, says Nomura.